Karen Acton is chief executive officer of Post–Newsweek Media, Inc., whose businesses include The Gazette community newspaper group, Southern Maryland Newspapers, Comprint Military Publications and Comprint Printing in the suburbs of Washington, DC. She joined The Washington Post Company in 2001 as publisher of Southern Maryland Newspapers, when Post–Newsweek Media purchased the newspapers. Since that time, she has held numerous positions including president of Southern Maryland Newspapers, chief financial officer of Post–Newsweek Media and president of Comprint Printing. She was promoted to chief executive officer on January 2012. During Acton’s tenure as publisher, Southern Maryland Newspaper’s received numerous awards for General Excellence from the Suburban Newspapers of America (SNA) and also received numerous awards for Newspaper of the Year from the Maryland–Delaware–DC Press Association (MDDC). Acton is a board member of the MDDC and was president of the organization in 2006. She is a past board member of the Charles County Chamber of Commerce and the Southern Maryland Higher Education Center. Acton grew up in Camp Springs, MD, and earned a master’s in finance management from the University of Maryland University College (UMUC). She also received a BS in business management with an emphasis in accounting from UMUC. Acton has worked in the newspaper industry since 1982 and has held various positions besides those listed above, including assistant controller, controller, general manager and group manager.